Egg carton binder



Nov. 21, 1961 R. P. BLAIS EGG CARTON BINDER Filed July 13. 1959 Ava 70,? 5/ pALPH/QfiL/I/S Sttes 3,009,569 EGG CARTGN BINDER Ralph P. Blais, Duluth, Minn, assignor to Van Vick Paper Box 'Co., Duluth, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. No. 826,682 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to egg carton binders. More particularly, it relates to a binder by means of which a plurality of egg cartons may be vertically stacked and bound together in an efficient and effective manner.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel egg carton binder of simple and inexpensive construction and utilization.

A more specific object is to provide a novel egg carton binder which can be manufactured inexpensively, applied quickly and easily, and will effectively lock in position to secure a plurality of egg cartons stacked vertically in tight non-sliding relation to each other and hold the same together as a compact unitary package.

Another object is to provide a novel and simple binder for egg cartons which can be manufactured inexpensively and applied very quickly, easily and simply without any tools, to effectively lock a plurality of stacked egg cartons together into a compact unitary package.

Another object is to provide a novel egg carton binder which when applied properly to a plurality of egg cartons stacked vertically will effectively prevent the egg cartons from shifting longitudinally relative to each other and which will utilize a portion of at least one of the egg cartons to effectively lock the binder in binding position.

Another object is to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive binder for a plurality of egg cartons which will positively engage each of the egg cartons to prevent lateral shifting between the cartons and which will at the same time provide simple but effective means to aid in grasping the unitary package which results from the application of the binder to a plurality of stacked egg cartons.

Another object is to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive egg carton binder so designed as to facilitate the application thereof to a plurality of vertically stacked egg cartons in that a self aligning function is provided through the unique construction of the blank constituting the binder.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of egg cartons bound into a compact unitary package through the application of one of my egg carton binders thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of my egg carton binders immediately after having been formed from a blank; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

One embodiment of my invention as shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes a band or strip indicated generally by the numeral 5 which is elongate and formed from a sheet of cardboard or similar material. The band 5 when formed in the manner to be hereinafter described is ready for application to a plurality of egg cartons such as 6 and 7 shown in FIG. 1 and to be secured as shown in FIG. 3 to effectively look a plurality of such egg cartons 6 and 7 into a compact unitary package as shown in FIG. 1. It will be noted that my egg carton binder is particularly adapted for securing a plurality of egg cartons in stacked relation if the egg cartons are of the center-closing type. The center-closing type of carton is characterized in that it has a centrally disposed longitudinally extending opening 9 at which oppositely disposed cover flaps such as 10 and 11 shown in FIG. 3 are received and secured. Wherever herein the term center-closing is utilized, it is intended to refer to this type of egg carton. As best shown in FIG. 3, there is normally provided an upstanding longitudinally extending central partition 12 and a plurality of laterally protruding transverse partitions 8 extending upwardly on opposite sides thereof. The transverse partitions 8 are preferably cut away as at 8a so that the locking tabs 10a and 11a of the cover flaps 10 and 11 may be bent downwardly and retained in locked position as shown in FIG. 3, the locking tabs being held in position by the portions of the partition 8 which extend upwardly along the sides of the partion 12 in slightly spaced relation thereto. My binder is particularly adapted for use in securing a plurality of such cartons as will be hereinafter shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the elongate band or strip 5 is divided into a central portion identified as such in the drawing and also identified by the numeral 13. At opposite sides of the central portions there is a pair of intermediate portions as indicated in FIG. 2 and identified by the numerals 14 and 15. End portions 16 and 17 are also provided and identified as such for the sake of accurate description of the manner in which the band is made.

Reference to FIG. 2 will readily show that the band 5 is scored transversely to form the central portion 13, the pair of intermediate portions 14 and 15, and the pair of end portions 16 and 17 by scoring the band transversely along lines 18, 19, 20 and 21. The scoring is indicated in the drawings by a broken line. It will be noted that each of the intermediate portions '14 and 15' has an elongate opening identified by the numerals 22 and 23, respectively, which is centrally disposed and extends longitudinally of the band from one end of the intermediate portion to the other. The vertically extending portions of the transverse partitions 8 are received within the openings 22 and 23 when the band 5 is applied to a stack of egg cartons as shown. It will be readily appreciated of course, that if a greater number of egg cartons are to be secured together in vertically stacked relation, the intermediate portions 14 and 15 and the openings 22 and 23 will necessarily be longer to accommodate the additional transverse partition or partitions, as the case may be. It will also be noted that each of the intermediate portions 14 and 15 is scored longitudinally along parallel lines at opposite sides of their respective openings 22 and 23 and in spaced relation thereto. These scorings have been indicated by broken lines extending longitudinally of the blank band 5 and are identified by the numerals 24, 25, 26 and 27,

the latter two being applied to the intermediate portion 15 and the former to the intermediate portion 14.

It will also be noted that the band 5 is formed so as to have a transverse opening formed therein at the ends of each of the longitudinal openings 22 and 23. These transverse openings extend laterally at least as far as the score lines 24, 25, 26, and 27 and have been identified by the numerals 28, 29, 30, and 31. The scoring 24, 25, 26, and 27 causes the material between the scoring and the openings 22 and 23 to function as a flap with the flap hinging along the lines 24, 25, 26, and 27 to thereby facilitate and guide the laterally protruding ends of the transverse partitions 8 into the openings 22 and 23 when the band 5 is applied to a stack of such cartons.

It will be noted that the transverse openings 28 formed at the outer end of the longitudinal openings 22 is offset laterally in the direction of the central portion 13 relative to the transverse scoring 18 between the intermediate portion 14 and its associated end portion 16. Similarly, the transverse opening 31 is offset laterally in the direction of the central portion 13 relative to the transverse scoring 21. One purpose in having these transverse openings 28 and 31 in the position shown is that it relieves the pressure on the locking tuck of the band and on the center partition of the top egg carton. Also, the opening is offset for the purpose of giving or providing a better gripping surface to a handler of the unitary packages after the band has been applied to a plurality of stacked cartons to effectively lock them into such a package. Because of the positioning of the openings 28 and 31, a pair of grip elements 32 and 33 are provided, as shown in FIG. 3, which greatly facilitate handling of the unit.

It will also be noted that the central portion 13 is scored transversely into three parallel transverse sections identified by the numerals 34, 35, and 36. It will be noted that all three of these sections are of equal dimensions and that sections 34 and 36 are each provided with an opening which is colinear with the openings 22 and 23 and communicates with one of them. It will also be noted that the section 34 is out along its score line and transversely of the opening 22, the cut 37 extending laterally outwardly to a pair of scores indicated by the numeral 38 and 39 which are colinear with the scorings indicated by the numerals 24 and 25. Similarly, the central section 13 is provided with a second transverse opening indicated by the numeral 40 which extends laterally at each side of the opening 23 and between longitudinal scoring indicated by the numeral 41 and 42 which are colinear with the scoring indicated by the numeral 26 and 27. The scorings 38, 39, 41, and 42 serve the same functions as the scorings 24, 25, 26, and 27 in that they permit the material between these scorings and the longitudinal opening disposed between the two, to swing outwardly, much as hinged partitions, to self-center the band 5 as it is applied and guide the outwardly extending portions of the transverse partitions 8 into the opening.

Each of the end portions 16 and 17 is scored transversely along lines 43 and 44, respectively, to form tucks 45 and 46, respectively. These tucks 45 and 46 serve to lock the band in position and hold a plurality of cartons such as 6 and 7 in tight fitting non-sliding relation to each other so that they cannot separate or slide longitudinally one relative to the other. In this connection, the laterally protruding partitions 8 cooperate with the band to prevent such longitudinal shifting as can be readily seen by reference to FIG. 1. It will be noted that that band 5 is of such width as to extend across the entire distance between the two partitions at the opposite sides of the partition which is received in the longitudinal openings 22 and 23. These snug dimensions also aid in preventing relative shifting between the various cartons in the unitary package provided through the application of the band 5.

In use, the band 5 as shown in FIG. 2 is merely placed flat upon a table and a stack of vertically aligned egg cartons is placed in superimposed relation thereto with the bottoms of the cartons directly above the central section 13. The intermediate portions 14 and 15' are then swung upwardly to cause the partitions 8 to slip into the openings 22 and 23 of the intermediate portions with the lower corners of the partitions 8 passing outwardly through the longitudinal openings of the central section. The end portions 16 and 17 are then bent over across the top of the center-closing type carton at the top of the stack and the tucks '45 and 46 are tucked into the longitudinal opening 9 of the top carton as best shown in FIG. 3, the tucks 45 and 46 passing downwardly between the 4 center partition 12 and the locking tabs 19:: and 11a of the cover flaps of the top egg carton.

I have found that when my band is so constructed and applied it provides a highly effective, simple, and inexpensive, yet ellicient means for locking a plurality of egg cartons of this type together into a compact unitary package, such that they may be readily handled without danger of the components of the package separating. Moreover, I have found that it is impossible for the components of such a package to shift longitudinally or laterally one relative to the other. in addition, I have found that the grip elements 32 and 33 are highly desirable and effective as an aid in handling such unitary packages.

From the above, it can be readily seen that I have provided an unusually simple and inexpensive egg carton binder which effectively and efficiently secures a plurality of vertically stacked egg cartons together into a compact and easily handled unitary package.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A unitary package comprising a plurality of vertically stacked closed egg cartons each having a plurality of laterally protruding transverse partitions spaced longitudinally of the carton and disposed in common vertical planes with a partition of the other cartons and each having a centrally disposed longitudinally extending opening at which oppositely disposed cover flaps are received and secured, and a cardboard binder extending around the medial portions of said cartons and securing them to each other in tight non-shifting relation, said binder constituting an elongate band made of cardboard and being scored transversely into a central portion disposed beneath said stack, a pair of end portions extending across the top of said stack, and a pair of intermediate portions one each of which is disposed between said central portion and one of said end portions and extends upwardly from said central portion along the sides of said stack, each of said intermediate portions and an associated section of said central portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally of said band and through which one of the partitions of each of said cartons extends outwardly, each of said end portions having a tuck formed at its extreme outer end and tucked downwardly into the centrally disposed longitudinal opening of the uppermost of the cartons of said stack to etfectively secure said band in such position and thereby bind said cartons together as a unit, said band being less in width than the distance between the two partitions disposed at opposite sides of the partitions extending through said openings.

2. A unitary package comprising a plurality of vertically stacked closed egg cartons having a plurality of laterally protruding transverse partitions spaced longitudinally of the cartons and disposed in vertical planes and having a centrally disposed longitudinally extending opening at the top at which oppositely disposed cover flaps are received and secured, and a cardboard binder extending around said cartons between pairs of said transverse partitions and securing said cartons to each other in tight non-shifting relation, said binder constituting an elongate band made of cardboard or the like and having a central portion disposed beneath said stack and a pair of end portions extending across the top of said stack, and a pair of intermediate portions, one each of which is disposed between said central portion and one of said end portions and extends upwardly from central portion along the sides, each of said intermediate portions and an associated section of said central portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally of said band through which some of the transverse partitions of said cartons extend outwardly, each of said end portions having a tuck at its extreme outer end tucked downwardly into the centrally disposed longitudinal opening of the uppermost of the cartons of said stack to effectively secure said band in such position and thereby bind said cartons together as aunit.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said elongate opening is a mere slit.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein the Width of said band is substantially equal to but not greater than the distance between the pairs of partitions disposed at opposite sides of the partitions extending through said opening.

5. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said band is slitted transversely at the outer end 0f each of said elongate openings, each of said transverse slits being References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,860 Cormier Nov. 1, 1938 2,853,186 Holmberg Sept. 23, 1958 2,867,320 Andre Jan. 6, 1959 10 2,872,036 Forrer Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,309 Great Britain May 19, 1954 

